MARCH 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry

The requirements specification for the perspective Ilyushin Il-276 military transport plane has been approved by Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and the Industry and Trade Ministry, the Ilyushin Company’s press office told TASS.

PLAAF H-6K strategic bombers complete large-scale drill

Posted On
Friday, 30 March 2018 14:59

A division of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force dispatched 12 H-6K bombers to carry out actual combat military training recently, according to a message released by the Chinese Air Force on Mar. 27.

Lacroix Defense, a France-based leader in countermeasures, is definitely fighting on all fronts to promote its systems. During Defexpo 2018, the company, which has been particularly active in the Asia-Pacific area, will highlight advanced systems for IAF major programs, the Rafale and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

Su-57 pilots to get new G-suit in 2019

Posted On
Friday, 30 March 2018 13:43

The supplies of a new G-suit for the pilots of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets will begin not earlier than in 2019, Director General of Zvezda designer company Sergey Pozdnyakov told TASS on March 30, 2018.

Afghan UH-60 Black Hawks mission-ready this summer

Polish Air Force adds four more M-346 trainer jets

Posted On
Thursday, 29 March 2018 11:12

Leonardo and the Armament Inspectorate of the Polish Ministry of National Defense have signed a contract to supply four additional M-346 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) that will join the Polish Air Force’s existing fleet of eight aircraft by 2020. The contract, worth more than 115 million euro, includes a support package. It also contains options for additional four aircraft and support package.

China to upgrade Pakistan JF-17 with KLJ-7A AESA radar

Posted On
Thursday, 29 March 2018 10:17

China will upgrade Pakistan Air Force JF-17 fighter jets with a world-class radar system that will substantially improve the combat capability of the aircraft, a top Chinese radar researcher said. Hu Mingchun, head of the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology in Jiangsu province, said the KLJ-7A active phased array radar will give the JF-17 many advantages in an aerial combat.

Lockheed Martin rolls out first RoKAF F-35A fighter jet

Posted On
Thursday, 29 March 2018 09:43

Republic of Korea and U.S. government leaders celebrated the public debut or 'roll out' of the first Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-35A Lightning II at the Lockheed Martin Fort Worth production facility yesterday, March 27, 2018.

India plans to donate four Mi-24 gunships to Afghan Air Force

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 March 2018 16:06

India is planning to donate four Mi-24 gunships to Afghanistan, the Hindustan Times newspaper writes.According to Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India Shaida Abdali, India will buy four Hind combat helicopters from Belarus and donate them to Kabul.

Leonardo starts supplying RAF with BriteCloud decoy system

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 March 2018 15:22

Leonardo has begun deliveries of its new ‘BriteCloud’ decoy to the UK’s Royal Air Force for combat missions following the Ministry of Defence’s formal go-ahead for the new technology. The drinks-can-sized countermeasure, which protects fighter jets from modern radar-guided missiles, will be available for use by Tornado GR4 crews in the near future.

Qatar formally orders 12 additional Rafale fighter jets

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 March 2018 14:37

The exercise of the option for the purchase of 12 additional Rafale fighters for Qatar comes into effect today.The exercise of the option for the purchase of 12 additional Rafale fighters for Qatar comes into effect on March 27, the French aircraft manufacturer said yesterday.

Martin Baker's ejection seat selected for RoKAF KF-X program

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 March 2018 10:05

Martin-Baker has been awarded a contract to provide the escape system for the Republic of Koreas Air Force’s new fighter, KF-X. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) competitively selected Martin-Baker’s Mk18 ejection seat for its latest aircraft development programme, the British company announced on March 23, 2018.

The United Kingdom has awarded MBDA a £400 million (US$570 million) contract for the capability sustainment programme (CSP) of the advanced Brimstone air-to-surface missile, to extend its service life beyond 2030, the European consortium said on March 27, 2018.

Introducing AeroVironment's new Puma 3 UAS

Posted On
Monday, 26 March 2018 16:06

AeroVironment, Inc., a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for both defense and commercial applications, today announced at the AUSA Global Force Symposium that the company is now taking orders for its new Puma 3 small unmanned aircraft system.

Bulgaria still seeking replacement for its aged MiG-29 fighter jets

Posted On
Monday, 26 March 2018 15:33

Despite recent efforts to upgrade the MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) multirole combat aircraft of the national air force, Bulgaria is still seeking for a replacement for these fighter jets, according to the country`s top military officials.

Raytheon, DARPA progressing towards Drone Swarms Control Technology

Posted On
Monday, 26 March 2018 15:00

Under DARPA's Offensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics program, Raytheon BBN Technologies is developing technology to direct and control swarms of small, autonomous air and ground vehicles, the US Defense contractor said on March 26, 2018.

Ukraine signs preliminary deal with France for 55 Airbus rotorcraft

Posted On
Sunday, 25 March 2018 17:59

Ukraine and France on Friday, March 23, inked a preliminary deal for delivery of 55 rotorcraft from Airbus Helicopters to be used by the country's police, border guards and emergency departments, the ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced in an official statement.